How to succeed next semester

Spring semester is almost here! Now’s the time to start planning for a successful semester. Reflect on what you did last semester, set goals for next semester, and plan to hit the ground running on day one. Here are some easy steps to take in order to succeed next semester:

1. Reflect on last semester

Before you can begin making a plan for next semester, you have to reflect on last semester. Go through all your old papers, tests, and feedback from your professors. What did they say about your work? What could you improve on? See if there are performance trends. Did you start the semester off strong and then trail off? Did you do really well in your quant courses but struggle with humanities? How did you balance your social and academic life? Be honest with yourself as you reflect on last semester.

2. Make SMART goals for next semester

Set goals to help you succeed next semester. Maybe you want to take an online course to help brush up on your math skills. Or you want to find more time to study in the library during the week. Or you could set a non-academic goal like volunteering once per month. Just make sure your goals are SMART. S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym that you can use to guide your goal setting. To make sure your goals are clear and reachable, each goal should be:

S – SPECIFIC: simple, sensible, and significant

M – MEASURABLE: meaningful and motivating

A – ACHIEVABLE: reasonable and attainable

R – RELEVANT: realistic and results-based

T – TIME-BASED: time-limited and time-sensitive

3. Keep your second semester plan in sight

When the semester starts in a few weeks, don’t forget your plan! Write your S.M.A.R.T. goals on post-it notes and put them around your room as reminders. Write check lists in your planner to make sure you stay on top of your work. Learn from last semester, stick with your new plan, and you’re going to rock this next semester! Good luck!

You May Also Like

Welcome

ValoreBooks makes it easy for savvy students like you to save money, make money, and get the most value out of your college experience. Our blog is no exception to that rule. Here you'll find tips and advice on studying, saving money, planning your career, paying for college, and more.